NTI trains 145,000 teachers nationwide

The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) on Thursday said it trained 145,000 primary school teachers nationwide.

The NTI Director-General, Dr Aminu Sharehu, made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of the second cohort of phase two, cycle two training for primary school teachers.

The teachers were drawn from Delta, Bauchi, Oyo, Taraba and Zamfara, adding the ceremony took place at the SMASE Centre, National Teachers Institute, Kaduna.

Represented by Dr Kolawole Adeola, Director of Academic Planning, Sharehu explained that the institute had the capacity to train various categories of teachers.

Sharehu said that 145,000 teachers were trained within a week on primary school curriculum at its centres nationwide.

According to him, the institute is partnering with the United Kingdom University, Commonwealth of Learning, National Open University, UNICEF, USAID and a lot of foundations for the training of teachers.

He said that capacity building for teacher was necessary to develop and improve the education system in the country.

According to him, retraining of teachers will enable them discharge their responsibilities in line with the global challenges, enabling them to effect positive changes in the education sector.

He said 35 states, including the FCT, participated in the SMASE training, adding that measures were in place to provide

guidelines for the training of teachers at the state and local government levels.

Sherehu urged the participants to use the training to improve on the teaching of mathematics and science studies to drive the technology advancement in the country.

Also, the Coordinator of the centre, Dr Ahmad Bello, said the training was aimed at making the teaching of mathematics and science subjects effective.

He explained that the training was also aimed at improving students’ knowledge, interest and to bring about positive changes toward improving the education sector.

Samuel Bamidele, a participant from Oyo State, said the three-weeks training had enhanced his knowledge and skills, which he would share with other teachers to improve interest in science subjects.

Also, Hajiya Umah Sani from Bauchi State, urged the government to improve its capacity outreach for teachers at the primary school level.